Publishers Weekly
05/01/2023
Plant magic and majestic botanicals add fresh twists to debut author Thomson’s series kickoff, a novel tinged with Frances Hodgson Burnett vibes. Eleven-year-old Daisy Thistledown, who is of English and Persian descent, usually travels the world with her intrepid reporter mother, but she’s left at a London boarding school while her mom chases a dangerous assignment in Peru. When her mom is presumed dead after a plane crash, and the school Matron’s actions turn both cruel and suspicious, Daisy and kitten Napoleon flee for London’s Kew Gardens, where her mother bid her go if anything went wrong. There, Daisy—who’s always had a strange connection with plants—is stunned to find an entry to a botanical realm called Greenwild, cared for by magical Botanists. Discovering that her mother is one of many Greenwilders to go missing from the Amazon, Daisy seeks to find out what is behind the disappearances in the mundane world, called the Grayside. Though conveniently rendered circumstances sometimes detract from this bright conservationist fantasy, Daisy’s globe-trotting experiences grant her a mature worldview as she contends with a new magical reality, and a hidden-garden-set subplot proves affectionatly wrought. Lavish b&w illustrations by Paganelli and Baker portray characters, gardens, and botanical visuals. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Peter Knapp, Park and Fine Literary. (June)
From the Publisher
A New York Times Bestseller
An Amazon Best Book of the Year So Far
An Amazon Best Book of the Month
A Kids' Indie Next Pick
A Barnes & Noble's Best Children's Book
An Audible Best Audiobook of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Year
"Phenomenal . . . If you don’t believe in magic, you will after you’ve read Greenwild." — A.F. Steadman, bestselling author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
"An enchanting middle-grade novel that will transport readers to a world as wild as it is wonderful." — Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of The Chronicles of Never After series
“Greenwild is a thrilling adventure that takes seed in your imagination and runs wild... a truly wonderful book that children will love." — M.G. Leonard, bestselling author of Beetle Boy and the Adventures on Trains series
"The start of a dazzling series about a girl’s determination to find her mother, Thomson’s debut blooms with gorgeous wildlife descriptions that shape Greenwild’s world-building and its diverse inhabitants... aspiring young explorers will happily spend time in this emotionally gripping adventure." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
"A superbly written, exciting debut that will leave fantasy lovers wanting more...With its clever worldbuilding, high-stakes plot, and well-developed characters, this first novel in the Greenwild series is a must-purchase." —School Library Journal, starred review
"Expertly wrought and worth planting on shelves." — Kirkus
"Plant magic and majestic botanicals add fresh twists to debut author Thomson’s series kickoff, a novel tinged with Frances Hodgson Burnett vibes." — Publishers Weekly
"This fabulous first entry in a series is brimming with marvels... a reassuring reminder of the endless amount of magic in the natural world." — Booklist
"Bursting with charm and imagination, Greenwild is a rare and wondrous treasure that had me spellbound from first page to last." — Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper trilogy
"A spellbinding, enchanting read full of wildness and beauty." — Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
"A wonderfully whimsical story with a beautiful world - and lots of mystery and adventure - for readers to immerse themselves in. Pari Thomson is an exciting new author." — Aisha Bushby, author of A Pocketful of Stars
“A glorious, page-turning adventure filled with botanical magic, memorable characters, oodles of imagination and bags of heart. Thomson has created a gorgeous, utterly believable world as magical and magnificent as the Amazon rainforest itself. I adored this book!” — Aisling Fowler, author of the Fireborn series
“A wildly inventive adventure, bursting with beautiful detail and a satisfying plot as twisty as magical vines! Green-fingered and big-hearted, I loved it!” — Tamzin Merchant, author of The Hatmakers
“GREENWILD is a spellbindingly magical book full of adventure, hope, and lessons for us all to learn here in our world.” — L. D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency
"A beautifully realised eco-fantasy that will open a door in readers' hearts." — Chris Riddell, author of the Ottoline series
School Library Journal
★ 08/01/2023
Gr 5 Up—A superbly written, exciting debut that will leave fantasy lovers wanting more. Eleven-year-old Persian-British protagonist Daisy Thistledown lives a nomadic life of adventure, following her journalist mother as she chases global stories. Then, Ma goes missing while on assignment. Following her mother's last request, Daisy seeks refuge in Greenwild, a hidden world of botanical magicians ("Botanists") and discovers she is one of them. While unraveling the mystery of Ma's disappearance, Daisy and her new friends uncover a plot that threatens the entire planet. The children's harrowing adventures propel the story. Their efforts to stop the nature-destroying Grim Reapers end in a dramatic battle where Daisy's heroism shines. Thomson expertly uses figurative language to establish setting and engage readers. This title is perfect for fantasy fans and as a fiction accompaniment to conservation units. VERDICT With its clever worldbuilding, high-stakes plot, and well-developed characters, this first novel in the "Greenwild" series is a must-purchase.—Maria Bohan
SEPTEMBER 2023 - AudioFile
Narrator Sophia Nomvete creates a determined voice for Daisy, who is sent to boarding school while her mom, a world-renowned journalist, chases down a story in the Amazon rainforest. When her mom then goes missing, Daisy sets out to find her and stumbles into Greenwild, a world in which botanists use green magic to grow plants. She learns that she and her mother are also botanists and that there is an evil plot to hunt them down. Nomvete gives a passionate performance, establishing a unique voice for each character. Listeners and environmentalists alike will be intrigued by this fantastical world and the characters Nomvete brings to life in this grand adventure. M.D. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-04-12
A hidden door in Kew Gardens leads a child to life-changing truths about herself and her family.
Having spent most of her life traveling around the world with Leila, her intrepid eco-journalist mother, 11-year-old Daisy Thistledown has acquired useful skills, from shoplifting to slingshot expertise, but not magic—or so she thinks. In the wake of her mother’s sudden disappearance in the Amazon, Daisy enters Mallowmarsh, one of a set of pocket universes called the Greenwild where magical flora and the Botanists who preserve and study them shelter from the hostile Grayside, as they call our world. Met with both welcome and suspicion, Daisy quickly fits in without losing her determination to return to the Grayside to search for Leila and goes on to play a pivotal role in saving Mallowmarsh from mysterious eco-cidal villains dubbed Grim Reapers. The author tucks in a standard-issue magical school for Daisy to attend, though largely just as a setting for occasional class encounters with viciously feral plants, and kits her out with a lively supporting cast complete with a ghost, several previously unknown relatives, and (in the role of Draco Malfoy) bully “Poison” Ivy Helix to sneer at her supposed lack of magic and deride her for being an “unlawful immigrant.” Daisy’s mother is Persian, and her deceased English father is cued White. Finely detailed illustrations by Paganelli join Baker’s equally exact botanical ones.
Another magic school story, albeit expertly wrought and worth planting on shelves for its cogent themes. (map) (Fantasy. 9-13)
